Onion ring separator

ABSTRACT

An onion ring separator for separating sliced onions into onion rings. A frame having a substantially horizontal platform mounted thereon is provided and the platform has a plurality of perforations therein. A conveyor delivers sliced onions to one end of the platform and banks of plungers pass through the perforations. The plunger banks are reciprocated in unison in the perforations so as to impart an impact force to the sliced onions so as to separate the sliced onions into onion rings. A plurality of flexible, spaced overhead arms are rotated to engage the sliced onions and the onion rings for moving them along to the discharge end of the platform. A conveyor is provided at the discharge end of the platform for collecting the sliced onion rings.

United States Patent 15] 3,682,214 Orlowski [451 Aug. 8, 1972 ONION RING SEPARATOR [57] ABSTRACT [72] Inventor: Gerald J. Orlowski, Calumet Park, An onion ring separator for separating sliced onions lll. into onion rings. A frame having a substantially horizontal platform mounted thereon is provided and [73] Ass'gnee' m the platform has a plurality of perforations therein. A [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 conveyor delivers sliced onions to one end of the platform and banks of plungers pass through the perfora- [211 Appl 113369 tions. The plunger banks are reciprocated in unison in the perforations so as to impart an impact force to the 52 0.8. CI. ..146/l R sliced onions so as to separate the sliced Onions into [51] Int. Cl. ..A23n 15/100 onion rings- A plurality of flexible, Spaced Overhead [58] Field ofSearch'. ..l46/l R m are rotated to engage the sliced onions and the onion rings for moving them along to the discharge end of the platform. A conveyor is provided at the [56] References cued discharge end of the platform for collecting the sliced UNITED STATES PATENTS onion rings. v

3,534,792 10/1970 Orlowski ..l46/l R 5 Chins, 4 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercombie AttomeyMolinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff 2 {gangs (1 7 t i\ *(l Z r -f x 76 26" 1 AK'QZA'I i'LLAi M s 1 flaw/J 'mi'm t t w H I m g g I I g i v I l 1'13 4 D48 #2 brig/Pk .9, taij q t. I I I g a i 2 II x 4 52 i' s i 52 6 54 842 24 6'4 7'0 -68 42 is. =ae a fins 2 7 243 'IL PATENTEDAuc "8 m2 3.682.214

SHEET 2 OF 4 r. m 000 00 Q Q 1 g g fizz/entor: Gerald cf OrZOZl/Ski WM W 1,

PATENTEDAUB a ma 3.582.214 sum 3 or 4 zz/n i07 Gerald J Orlowski J M,

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Q I In z/eniorf H fie'ralcl f. Urlowski ONION RING SEPARA'IOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention and Description of the Prior Art This invention relates to apparatus for separating consumed, it has become desireable to provide mechanical equipment to make the ultimate product.

In order to mechanically produce onion rings, the onions must first be peeled and sliced. Such apparatus can be found for example in my US. Pat. No. 3,537,494 and in my US. Pat. application Ser. Nos. 827,672,827,673 and 47,463. After the onions are peeled and sliced into thin sections, they must then be separated into the desired onion rings. Machines of the shaker type and of the tumbling barrel type have been used for accomplishing such onion ring separation. Such equipment is considered to be inefficient. Also, onion ring separation methods are known in which the sliced onions are first submerged into boiling water and then separated into the individual rings. Sliced onions normally have been separated into rings by using manual procedures. In my US. Pat. No. 3,534,792, I describe an onion ring separator which is a highly effective machine for mechanically separating sliced onions into onion rings. My earlier design generally discloses the concept of providing a perforated platform to which the sliced onions are introduced. Plungers are reciprocated against the onion slices so as to separate them into onion rings.

Although my prior design is quite effective in operation, the design thereof was somewhat complex and relatively expensive, in construction. For example, my earlier design has a flexible table, mounted angularly to the horizontal. Also, a cam arrangement was used for moving the plungers in an undulating fashion. Furthermore, water was circulated across the table for assisting movement of the onions along the platform. Such design features were effective in use, but undesirably expensive and complicated in the manufacture of the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an onion ring separator which is an improvement over my earlier design shown in US. Pat. No. 3,534,792.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved onion ring separator which is particularly characterized by its simplicity and economy in construction, manufacture, and operation, while retaining effectiveness in operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved onion ring separator, which provides banks of reciprocating plungers mounted in a horizontal platform for imparting an impact to onion slices to separate them into onion rings, while the sliced onion rings are transported along the platform by rotating flexible arms spaced along the platform.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

All of the foregoing objects are accomplished by my improved onion ring separator which includes a frame, a substantially horizontal platform which is mounted on the frame, perforations in the platform, a conveyor for delivering sliced onions to the platform, a pair of banks of plungers passing through the perforations, means for periodically reciprocating each bank of plungers in unison in the perforations so as to impart an impact to the sliced onions with respect to the platform so as to separate the sliced onions into onion rings, rotating flexible overhead an'ns for engaging the sliced onions and to move them along the platform from the inlet end of the platform to the discharge end thereof, and a conveyor for collecting the sliced onion rings from the discharge end of the platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of my improved onion ring separator;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the onion ring separator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a substantially horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, my improved onion ring separator, generally 10, includes a frame, generally 12, a separating section, generally 14, transporting section, generally 16, and a drive section, generally 18.

The frame 12 is a welded steel structure and is generally constructed of hollow steel beams. The frame 12 includes elongated added sides 20 and 22 which are interconnected by a plurality of cross supports 24 at the opposite ends of the frame 12 and at various positions intermediate the opposite ends. A conveyor, generally 26, is located at the inlet end 28 of the frame 12. A take off conveyor, generally 30, is provided at the outlet end 32 of the frame 12.

The onion separating section 14 acts to separate sliced onions S, schematically shown coming from the inlet conveyor 26 by gravity feed to the upper side of the separating section 14 into onion rings, R, which are schematically shown as being removed from the separating section 14 by the take off conveyor 30. The take ofi conveyor 30 is mounted below the outlet end 32 of the separating section 14 so that the onion rings R may be fed thereon by gravity feed.

The separating section 14 includes a substantially rigid platform or plate 34, made, for example, of nylon, which is rigidly mounted in a horizontal position on the frame 12. Preferably, the platform 34 is rigidly secured to a pair of opposed longitudinal side supports 36, which are located in the opposite sides 20 and 22 of the frame 12 and the upper portion thereof. Bolts extend through the opposite sides of the platform 34 to secure the platform 34 to the flanges 38, which are secured to the longitudinal side supports 36. A plurality of circular, upright perforations or openings 40 are provided in the platform 34. The openings are preferably at uniformally spaced positions in the platform 34.

' A pair of similarly constructed plunger banks, generally 42, are provided to strike the sliced onions S. Each plunger bank 42 includes a plurality of upwardly extending plungers 44, which are slidably received within each of the perforations 40. Each plunger bank 42 includesa frame 46, seen best in FIG. 4. The frame 46 includes a pair of side supports 48 interconnected by a pair of end supports 50. A plurality of substantially parallel plunger receiving rods 52, preferably equally spaced apart, extend between the end supports 50 and are connected to the side supports 48. The plunger rods 7 52 are preferably circular in cross-section and receive a The plungers 44 pass upwardly through the perforations 40 in the platform 34. For reasons to be hereinafter described,'the plungers 44 are received within the perforations with clearance, such as one-sixteenth of an inch.

Each side support 48 of each plunger bank frame 46 is provided with a downwardly extending guide bar 54. Each guide bar 54 is rigidly mounted in an upright position at itsupper end to the central portion of each side support 48. Each guide bar 54 includes a downwardly projecting guide portion 56. A guide rail 56, for each guide bar is rigidly secured to a longitudinal cross support 58 in each of the parallel sides 20 and 22 of the frame 12. Again, for reasons to be hereinafter described, a clearance is provided between each of the guide bars 54 and each of the receiving guide rails 56, again the clearance being about 1/16 of an inch. The guide bars 54 and guide rails 56 cooperate to vertically guide the plungers 44 in their reciprocal movement within the perforations 40 of the platform 34.

Each of the vertical guide bars 54 has a central circular aperture 60 which rotatably receives the opposite outer ends of shaft 62 of a rocker assembly 64. The rocker assembly comprises a rocker arm 66 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 68. The shaft 68 is pivotally and rotatably carried within pillow blocks 70 which are secured to the longitudinal cross supports 58 of the sides 20 and 22 of the frame 12. Each shaft 68 extends between opposite guide bars 54 of each of the plunger banks 42. As the rocker arm 66 is rocked or pivotally reciprocated by the 'drive section 18, the plunger banks 42 are moved alternately in an up and down direction. When one of the plunger banks 42 is moved upwardly, the other bank 42 is moving downwardly and vice versa. This creates an up and down movement of the plungers 44 relative to the platform 34 for striking the sliced onions so as to separate slices Sinto rings R. As shown best in FIG. 1 one of the plunger banks 42 moves the plungers 44 downwardly to a position where their tops are substantially flush orslightly below the upper surface of the platform 34, but 1 retaining engagement with the perforations. In the upward movement, the plungers 44 jar or strike the sliced onions S with an impact to separate them into the desired onion rings R.

The transportation section 16 generally includes a plurality of overhead flexible transporting assemblies 72 which periodically engage and move the rings R and slices S from the inlet end to the outlet end of the frame. Each transporting assembly 72 includes a central shaft 74 having its opposite ends received within pillow blocks 76. Each pillow block 76 is rigidly mounted upon longitudinally extending support members 78 on the opposite sides 20 and 22 of the frame 12.

A plurality of flexible arms are rigidly secured toa frame 82 which surrounds each of the shafts 74 which are received within the pillow blocks 76. As shown, a plurality of flexible arms 80 are mounted at longitudinally and angularly spaced intervals on each of the support frames 82. Shafts 74 and frames 82 are rotated. I

in a counterclockwise direction so that the outer por+ tions of the flexible arms 80 engage the sliced onions S and onion rings R so as to move from the inlet end 28 to the outlet end 32 of the frame 12. The opposite ends of each shaft 74 includes sprockets 86 and 88. The sprockets 86 are inter-connected by chains 90 and the sprockets 88 are interconnected by chains 92. The shaft 74 closest to the inlet end 28 of the frame 12 acts as the drive shaft for the transportation section l6-and interconnects the remaining five arm supporting shafts 74 so as to rotate all of the shafts 74 and arms 80 in unison to continuously move the onion slices S and onion rings R from the inlet 28 to the outlet 32.

The drive section 18 operates both the transportation section 16 and the separating section 14. A motor assembly 94 is rigidly secured to the lower portion of the frame 12, as best seenin FIGS. 1 and 3. Drive or motor assembly 94 is mounted on a mounting plate 96 which is directly connected to the frame 12. The output shaft 98 of the motor 94 drives a timing belt 100. The timing belt 100 interengages a timing gear 102 whichis rigidly secured to a shaft 104. The shaft 104 is rotatably mounted in pillow blocks 106 which are mounted on a support plate 108, which is secured to the frame 12. A

one shaft 62 of the rocker arm assembly 64. The crank.

arm rotates continuously in one direction to thereby rock the rocker assembly 64 about the shaft 68 mounted in the pillow blocks 70. This imparts the desired up and down movement to the plunger banks 42. Since the rocker arm 66 pivots about the shaft 68 in the pillow blocks 70, the ends of the rocker assembly 64 move in an arcuate path of travel. Because of such arcuate movement, the previously described clearances between the guide bars 54 and guide rails 56 and between the plungers 44 and the perforations 40 in the platform 34 are provided.

Sprocket 126 is mounted on the shaft 104 and operatively engages a chain 128. The chain 128, in tum,

operatively engages a sprocket 130 which is fixedly secured to a shaft 132. The opposite ends of the shaft 132 are rotated within pillow blocks 134. A sprocket 136 is mounted on the shaft 132 and operatively engages the drive sprocket 138 for the transportation section 16. The opposite end of the drive chain 138 operatively engages the sprocket 86 at the inlet end 28 of the transportation section 16 and its rotation causes rotary movement of the transporting assemblies 72, so as to move the onion ring slices S and onion rings R in the desired path of travel as the onion ring slices are separated into onion rings.

Although it is believed that the foregoing fully describes the invention, a brief description of the operation of the apparatus will be provided to have even a more full understanding of the invention. The sliced onions S are introduced to the separating section 14 by the inlet conveyor 26. The sliced onions S drop by gravity feed downwardly toward the plungers 44 and the platform 34 at the inlet end 28. The rapid and periodic upward and downward movement of the plungets 44 in each of the banks 42 imparts an impact force to the slices so as to separate them into the desired onion rings R. The banks of the plungers 44 are movable in a substantially reciprocating vertical direction, and while one is moving upwardly the other is moving downwardly. Since the platform 34 is substantially horizontal, transporting assemblies 72 having the flexible arms 80 thereon transport the sliced onions S and onion rings R from the inlet 28 to the outlet 32. The arms 80 are rotated, counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to move both the slices S and ring R. At the outlet end 32, the rings R drop from the platform 34 to the outlet conveyor 30 from where the rings R are carried for further processing.

While in the foregoing there is provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present 1. An onion ring separator comprising a frame, a substantially horizontal platform mounted on said frame, perforations in said platform, conveyor means for delivering sliced onions to said platform, a bank of plungers passing through said perforations, means for periodically reciprocating said plungers in unison in said perforations to impart an impact force to said sliced onions with respect to said platform for separating said sliced onions into onion rings, flexible overhead drive means for engaging said sliced onions and said onion rings to transport them along said platform from the said inlet end to the discharge end of said platform, and means for collecting the said onion rings from the discharge end of said platform.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein two banks of plungers are provided, said plungers passing through the said perforations in said platform, the plungers in said first and second bank of plungers passing through substantially all of the perforations in said platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said periodically reciprocating means provides reciprocating movement for each bank of said plungers, said reciprocating means lifting one bank of plungers while lowering the other bank and vice versa.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bank of un rs com rises a fr e, means for mounti each i sa plunge i's on said rame, and means for p it otally mounting said reciprocating means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said overhead means comprises a plurality of means mounted between the said inlet end and the discharge end of said platform, said flexible means comprising a plurality of flexible arms, and means are provided for rotating said invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obflexible arms in a direction to engage Said sliced onions vious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent and said onion rings and transport them from the inlet end to the discharge end of said platform. 

1. An onion ring separator comprising a frame, a substantially horizontal platform mounted on said frame, perforations in said platform, conveyor means for delivering sliced onions to said platform, a bank of plungers passing through said perforations, means for periodically reciprocating said plungers in unison in said perforations to impart an impact force to said sliced onions with respect to said platform for separating said sliced onions into onion rings, flexible overhead drive means for engaging said sliced onions and said onion rings to transport them along said platform from the said inlet end to the discharge end of said platform, and means for collecting the said onion rings from the discharge end of said platform.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein two banks of plungers are provided, said plungers passing through the said perforations in said platform, the plungers in said first and second bank of plungers passing through substantially all of the perforations in said platform.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said periodically reciprocating means provides reciprocating movement for each bank of said plungers, said reciprocating means lifting one bank of plungers while lowering the other bank and vice versa.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bank of plungers comprises a frame, means for mounting each of said plungers on said frame, and means for pivotally mounting said reciprocating means.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said overhead means comprises a plurality of means mounted between the said inlet end and the discharge end of said platform, said flexible means comprising a plurality of flexible arms, and means are provided for rotating said flexible arms in a direction to engage said sliced onions and said onion rings and transport them from the inlet end to the discharge end of said platform. 